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1. What is ICZM?

ICZM stands for Integrated Coastal Zone Management. ICZM is a process for the management of the coast using an integrated approach, regarding all aspects of the coastal zone in an attempt to achieve sustainability.

The European Commission defines ICZM as follows:

"ICZM is a dynamic, multidisciplinary and iterative process to promote sustainable management of coastal zones. It covers the full cycle of information collection, planning (in its broadest sense), decision making, management and monitoring of implementation. ICZM uses the informed participation and cooperation of all stakeholders to assess the societal goals in a given coastal area, and to take actions towards meeting these objectives. ICZM seeks, over the long-term, to balance environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational objectives, all within the limits set by natural dynamics. 'Integrated' in ICZM refers to the integration of objectives and also to the integration of the many instruments needed to meet these objectives. It means integration of all relevant policy areas, sectors, and levels of administration. It means integration of the terrestrial and marine components of the target territory, in both time and space."

2. What is the significance of the term 'integrated' in ICZM?

The term 'integrated' can be interpreted in a number of ways. It therefore becomes necessary to define the term from the point of view of coastal zone management. There are 5 different levels at which integration occurs, in an ICZM project:

a. Integration among different sectors such as industrial, governmental, non-governmental, and within each sector too there are a number of sub-sectors in existence.

b. Integration between land and water elements of the coastal zone. This type of integration takes into consideration the dynamic relationship between all the ecosystems that exist along the coast and their interdependence.

c. Integration among levels of government: There is a high need for collaboration and cooperation between different levels of governance at the taluka, district, state and national levels as well as across the different departments of the government for the successful implementation of ICZM.

d. Integration between nations: Although ICZM as a project might observe geographical and political boundaries, its positive effects are global in nature as the coastal & marine ecosystems do not observe these demarcations. Thus, ICZM is an important tool on a global scale and if goals and beliefs are in common on a supranational scale, large scale problems could be mitigated or avoided.

e. Integration among disciplines: The ICZM project requires knowledge from all disciplines such as scientific, cultural, traditional, political, and local expertise to achieve a truly holistic approach towards management of the coast.

3. What is a Coastal Zone?

A coastal zone can be defined as: "The band of dry land and adjacent ocean space (water and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and land uses directly affect oceanic processes and uses and "vice versa".

4. What is the importance of a coastal zone and the need to manage it?

The dynamic processes that occur within the coastal zones produce diverse and productive ecosystems that are of great importance historically for human populations. However, due to extensive anthropogenic activities along the coast such as fishing, ship building and industrialization the coastal zone and the existing ecosystems have degraded considerably. In India, a coastal zone with a once dense mangrove cover and healthy stretch of coral reefs has now been reduced to patches of mangroves and coral reefs putting the associated marine bio-diversity in great peril.

As a whole, human activity along the coast degrades the systems by taking unsustainable quantities of resources. The effects are further exacerbated with the input of pollutant wastes. This provides the need for management. Due to the complex nature of human activity along the coast, a holistic all encompassing approach is needed for coastal zone management.

5. Which factor is imperative for ICZM to be successful?

There are a number of factors that are necessary for the success of ICZM. However, the most important factor is that of sustainability. Sustainability is not an end stage but a continuous process of decision making, to readjust the equilibrium between development and the process of protection of the environment. There are three main points that define sustainability as a concept:

a.Economic development to improve the quality of life of the people

b.Economic development that is also environmentally appropriate

c.Equitable development that ensures overall progress across different strata of society

6. What are the locations in which ICZM has been or is being implemented?

The innumerable benefits of ICZM are no secret and therefore, ICZM has now adopted a global character with almost all the countries of the world, either implementing or intending to implement ICZM projects. Some of the countries implementing ICZM in their coastal areas are Bangladesh, China, New Zealand, Sudan, Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, Belgium and a number of other European countries.

In India, a number of attempts have been made towards setting up Coastal Zone Management Projects in different States. However, it is for the first time that an Integrated Approach towards coastal zone management is being undertaken in the country as part of the ICZM Project.

In India, the first phase of the ICZM Project is being implemented in the three States of Orissa, West Bengal and Gujarat.

7. What is the Coastal Zone Regulation (CRZ) Notification of 2010?

The draft Coastal Zone Regulation Notification has been issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forests for protection and conservation of the coastal environment. The Coastal Zone Regulation notification declared coastal stretches as Coastal Regulation Zones and regulated activities in the CRZ.

8. What are the objectives of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2010?

The objectives of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2010 are:

a.To ensure livelihood security to the fishermen communities and other local communities living in the coastal areas

b.To conserve and protect coastal stretches, its unique environment and its marine area from degradation

c.To promote development in the coastal area in a sustainable manner based on scientific principles,taking into account the dangers of natural hazards such as sea level rise due to global warming.

9. What is the Integrated Coastal Zone Management project?

Hither to, the approach to managing India's coastal zone has been a purely regulatory one, as per the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification of 1991, promulgated under the Environment Protection Act of 1986. This approach does not seem to provide room to balance coastal zone conservation and necessary economic growth in the area or seek convergence with other development activities. Increasing developmental pressure during the last decade led to inadvertent violations of legal provisions and the economic sector simultaneously demanded for rationalizing the present regulatory measures.

In July 2004, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) constituted an Expert Committee, under the chairmanship of Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, to carry out a comprehensive review of the Coastal Regulation Zone notifications, taking into account the findings and recommendations of all previous committees, judicial pronouncements and representations from various stakeholders and suggest suitable amendments accordingly. The committee also had the mandate to make the regulatory framework consistent with well established scientific principles of coastal zone management and more flexible, depending on the local characteristics of the coastal zone stretches to be protected.

The committee submitted its report in Feb 2005. It recommended withdrawal of the regulation concept of coastal management and proposed the introduction of a larger concept of Integrated Coastal Zone Management by replacing Coastal Regulation Zones with Coastal Management Zones based on coastal vulnerability mapping and comprehensive management through community-based initiatives so as to ensure sustainability.

10. What are the primary objectives of the ICZM India Project?

The Integrated Coastal Zone Management project in India is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India in collaboration with the World Bank. The main objectives of the ICZM project are:

c.To ensure protection the economically and environmentally sensitive areas through habitat restoration programs and to develop management action programs for their sustainable development

d.To develop alternative livelihood sources such as resource augmentation means, cultural and eco-tourism for the coastal population affected due to habitat restoration and resource conservation programs

e.To develop a mechanism for sound management of quality of the environment.

f.To promote environmentally, socially and sectorally compatible development activities along the coast

11. What are the different components involved in the ICZM India project at the national level?

The different components involved in the ICZM project at a national level are:

12. What are the primary expectations or outcomes of an ICZM project?

a.To increase mangrove cover in the State through community based mangrove plantation activities.

b.To enhance the capacity of coastal communities to sustainably manage the coastal resources

c.To ensure livelihood enhancement and livelihood security of the coastal communities through assistance for establishment of micro-enterprises and development of livelihood opportunities.

d.Pollution abatement initiatives to be undertaken through planned and targeted activities in areas of high risk. These areas will be identified through monitoring of bio-physical and chemical parameters of the coastal waters.

e.Conservation and management of Marine National Park & Sanctuary to maintain intact the existent biodiversity and provide resources for its development and maintenance.

g.Coral conservation through transplantation to restore the coral reefs that have been destroyed as a result of different factors – anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic.

h. Sewerage treatment for Jamnagar City to prevent disposal of unused sewages into the coastal waters, thus ensuring a reduction in coastal pollution.

13. What is the ICZM Project duration?

The ICZM project will be implemented in phases over a period of 5 years. The project duration is from 2010 – 2015.

14. What is the budget allocated for ICZM Project?

The total budget of the ICZM India Project is INR 1150 crores. The budget allocated for ICZM Gujarat is INR 300 crores. This budget has been allocated on the basis of a loan approved by The World Bank.

15. Which areas in India are included in the ICZM India project?

In India, the three states of West Bengal, Orissa and Gujarat have been identified as the areas for pilot implementation of the first phase of ICZM project. With long coastlines and unique biodiversity conditions, these three states prove to be excellent grounds and have been identified with great potential for pilot implementation of a coastal zone management project.

16. Where in Gujarat is the ICZM project being implemented?

In Gujarat, the ICZM project is being implemented in the Gulf of Kachchh. Gulf of Kachchh is identified as the project area to implement the state level pilot investment in Gujarat due to its unique position as the ecological and economical hub of the state. Thus, the project will be spanning a total of 160 villages across the three districts of Jamnagar, Rajkot and Kachchh.

17. Which are the different components of the ICZM Gujarat project?

The ICZM project is divided into 4 components & the components are in-turn divided into sub-components. The different components of the ICZM Gujarat project are:

18. Which are the different agencies involved in the ICZM Gujarat Project?

There are six different agencies directly involved in the ICZM Gujarat Project. They are:

a.Gujarat Ecology Commission

b.Marine National Park & Sanctuary

c.Gujarat Ecological & Educational Research Foundation

d.Gujarat Pollution Control Board

e.Jamnagar Municipal Corporation

f.Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Application & Geo-Informatics

Gujarat Ecology Commission has been identified as the State Project Management Unit while the other agencies have been designated as Project Executing Agencies associated with different components and sub-components of the project.

19. What is the role of the SPMU?

Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC) has been nominated as the SPMU for the ICZM project to be implemented in the Gulf of Kachchh area in the state of Gujarat. The functions of the SPMU include preparation of baseline data for measuring the success of the project, documentation & publishing of research & case studies undertaken, monitoring and evaluation of the project and its activities with appropriate criteria.

As the SPMU, GEC shall also coordinate among the Project Executing Agencies (PEAs), ensure effective utilization of allocated funds and provide guidelines to the agencies for better implementation of their respective components, thereby providing management services for successful operation of the ICZM program.

Gujarat Ecology Commission is an institution established in 1992 by the Forest & Environment Department, Government of Gujarat to address the state's environment issues and develop sustainable technologies.

Shri. S.K.Nanda, IAS, is currently the Chairman, Gujarat Ecology Commission and Principal Secretary, Department of Forest and Environment, Government of Gujarat.

Shri. E. Balaguruswamy, IFS, is the Member Secretary, Gujarat Ecology Commission, since August, 2008. He is also the Project Director, ICZMP.

20. Which are the different stakeholders identified as part of the ICZMP Gujarat?

The different stakeholders involved with ICZMP Gujarat are:

a.State level government organizations

b.Project Executing agencies

c.Taluka and district level government organizations

d.Local Village Communities

e.Non-government organizations/SHGs, etc

f.Industries located along the coast

g.Residents of Jamnagar Municipal Corporation

h.General Public

21. Please give me details of the different agencies and what are the components/sub-components that they are associated with

22. What are the different activities being undertaken by Gujarat Ecology Commission under the ICZMP - Gujarat?

Gujarat Ecology Commission will be undertaking a number of activities with respect to conservation, plantation and restoration of mangroves along the coast of Gujarat. Gujarat Ecology Commission intends to carry out these mangrove plantation activities through community participation. The Commission also intends to launch comprehensive communication campaigns to educate and make them different stakeholders of the society aware of the importance of mangroves and coastal biodiversity.

Gujarat Ecology Commission is also associated with the socio-economic development of the coastal inhabitants. Under this, Gujarat Ecology Commission is intending to improve the overall livelihood conditions of the coastal village inhabitants through thorough various infrastructural projects at the village level. The Commission will also be instrumental in providing ideal conditions for overall economic growth of these areas. Some of these activities will be micro-enterprise establishment and management, increasing livelihood opportunities, improving the educational and health infrastructure of the village,etc.

23. What is the role of Gujarat Ecological and Educational Research Foundation in ICZMP - Gujarat?

The Gujarat Ecological and Educational Research Foundation is involved with two diverse aspects of ICZMP – Gujarat

a.Coastal Water Monitoring for Bio-physical Parameters: This activity will help in the creation of a comprehensive database of the existent bio-physical conditions in the Gulf of Kachchh. On the basis of this information, the State will plan further activities to be undertaken under ICZMP – Gujarat

b.Coral Transplantation:It is for the first time that coral transplantation activity is being undertaken in the State of Gujarat. Gujarat Ecological and Educational Research Foundation will be involved with the development of models for coral transplantation in the State.

24. What is the role of Marine National Park and Sanctuary in ICZMP – Gujarat?

The Marine National Park & Sanctuary in collaboration with Gujarat Ecology Commission will be responsible for mangrove conservation and plantation activities in areas that fall under the boundaries of Marine National Park & Sanctuary.

25. What activities will be undertaken by Jamnagar Municipal Corporation under ICZMP – Gujarat?

The Jamnagar Municipal Corporation has undertaken a project for the installation of a sewerage disposal plant for the City of Jamnagar with the objective of better managing and disposing off the waste generated in the city. This will help in better waste management in the city of Jamnagar and considerably reduce the adverse impact of sewage disposal along the coast.

26. What is the role of Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Application & Geo-Informatics in ICZMP – Gujarat?

Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Application and Geo-Informatics (BISAG) is assisting in the project through the creation of a comprehensive database on the geographical and physical factors of the project area through the techniques of satellite mapping and geo-informatics. The database generated by BISAG will help in continuous monitoring of the project are. It will also help in strategy design and implementation in the later phases on the project.

27. How many villages are selected for the ICZMP along the Gulf of Kachchh?

A total of 160 villages have been selected for phase-wise implementation of the ICZM project in the Gulf of Kachchh. The selected set of villages includes all the villages that fall within a radius of 5 kilometers from the coastline.

28. How will mangrove plantation activities be undertaken under the ICZMP?

The ICZMP intends to undertake mangrove plantation activities through community based organizations. The idea is to train the local village communities and other community-based organizations in sustainable techniques for coastal zone management so that they can continue the same, independent of any assistance after the project completion period.

29. Will the villagers be paid if they participate in the mangrove plantation activities?

Yes. Under the NREGA scheme of the government, we have arranged for the villagers to be paid for participating in the mangrove plantation activities. However, our requirement for helping hands right now is limited and will grow as the project area grows and more and more of the coast comes under mangrove plantation.

30. How many hectares of land will be undertaken for the mangrove plantation activities under the ICZMP?

Mangrove plantation activities are being undertaken by Gujarat Ecology Commission and Marine National Park & Sanctuary. Between these two organizations, a total of 21500 hectares of mangrove plantation will be effected

31. Who are the major beneficiaries of the mangrove plantation activities?

The primary beneficiaries of the mangrove plantation activities are the local, weaker and poor sections of the society including poor women folk. Mangrove plantation will help in increased livelihood opportunity through plantation and regeneration activities and increased fodder availability for the livestock rearers through alternative resource creation. The increase in mangrove area will also help the fishermen community by way of enhanced fishery resource in the near-shore waters. This activity will also provide easy access to fuel wood and small timber requirement through sustainable harvesting of mangroves. Since the project adopts a community based approach, the community will have a feeling of owning the project and the concept will be a sustainable one in the long run.

Increase in mangrove cover and species diversity will also bring about other associated benefits on a wider scale such as increased fishery and other faunal resources, control of soil erosion and salinity intrusion, development of a natural barrier against storms, cyclones, tsunami and hurricanes, etc. By and large, the entire ecosystem will improve leading to a healthy environment for the people.

Apart from this the local village population will also benefit from increased eco-tourism activities.

32. How will ICZMP lead to increase in eco- tourism activities along the Gulf of Kachchh?

The Gulf of Kachchh is a storehouse of natural beauty for nature tourists who want to witness nature in its natural habitat. The Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project intends to restore and conserve this beauty by undertaking different activities. Also as part of ICZMP, there are a few activities also being undertaken to develop the area along the Gulf of Kachchh as a potential destination for eco-tourism destination. Some of these activities include:

a.Development of an Oceanarium

b.Development of a mangrove canopy walk

c.Development of a coral trail

These initiatives will help in attracting more and more tourists to the area and will also contribute in the form of increased livelihood opportunities for the local inhabitants.

33. What are the other activities being undertaken as part of the socio-economic development component of ICZMP?

There are a myriad of activities being undertaken as part of the ICZM project. The ICZM project intends to address the issues and concerns of the villagers with respect to different subjects such as installation of irrigation mechanisms, installation of water harvesting techniques, improving the health, sanitation and educational infrastructure in the village, reducing the problem of salinity ingress, making provisions for employment opportunities, etc. These activities will be carried out under the banner of ICZM by establishing a series of networks or linkages with different government and non-government organizations and existing welfare schemes of the government if any.

34. Is there any other activity being undertaken as part of the ICZMP?

Yes. Another major activity being undertaken is that of development of a GANDHI memorial at Dandi. The Dandi project is an extension of ICZM and involves Dandi and three adjoining villages of Matvad, Samapur and Onjal.

35. Why is the village of Dandi selected as part of ICZMP?

The village of Dandi suffers from extensive environmental degradation due to intense industrial activity. The village of Dandi and surrounding villages suffer from a number of problems such as salinity ingression, coastal erosion, loss of livelihood opportunities, etc. Also, considering the historical significance of Dandi in India’s Struggle for Independence, this location has been chosen to be converted into a green heritage site for economic development of the locals and environmental restoration and conservation.

36. How is the GANDHI memorial associated with environmental restoration or conservation?

The acronym GANDHI stands for Green Action for National Dandi Heritage Initiative. This project intends to declare Dandi as a heritage site and convert it into an eco-friendly village. There are 4 villages that have been undertaken in Dandi for this project. The GANDHI project involves a number of activities such as installation of solar lamps, mangrove plantation activities, beach cleaning activities, boosting of livelihood opportunities in the villages, etc. The project was inaugurated by Honorable Union Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Shri. Jairam Ramesh. He has lauded the initiative and has called for the need for similar projects in different parts of the country.

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Integrated Coastal Management Project in India: Consulting Services, Development of Master Plan for the GANDHI Green Memorial Project to be implemented at village Dandi, Sampar, Onjal and Matwad of Jallapore Block of Navasari District...